Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1887-07-09
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOR
JULY 10.
Lesson Text: "The Flight into
Egypt" Matt, fi., 13-23-Golden
Text: Ps. xviii. 10-Commen-
tary by the Rev. r. s.
Macarthur. ID. ID.


tne pan OF MS GOSpel. CnrlSJS HE ana WOrk
are the heart of Old Testament prophecy. Its
fulfillment in him in most unexpected ways,
often through the malice of wicked men, is
an argument for the inspiration of the Script
ures We may see in to-day's lesson how
God can watch over his Church even in its
times of greatest danger.
THE LESSON.
VS. 1915. The angel etc.-This expression
in the Old Testament generally refers to the
angel Jehovah, the Second Person in the God
head. Strictly speaking, here it is an angel
In the ordinary sense of that term, and refer
ence seems to be to the angel Gabriel, who
luke l., 2G appeared to Mary to announce
the birth of the Lord The word angel
means simply a messenger. So used, it is
applied to prophets, to persons, and even to in
tion it is limited to a race of beings Of SUI
perior intelligence and holiness. who did
Gods will by ministering to the heirs OF sal
vation. This messenger appeared now to Jo-
seph In dream. The case is peculiarly urg
ent; there must be no delay. Immediately,
therefore, he arose and took the young child
the child, according to the usual scriptural
method, is again mentioned frst-and his
mother. Egypt was at this time subject to the
Romans, but it was not under the control Of
Herod. 1t had been for centuries familiar to
the Hebrews. The way was easy. The Jews
there. Here the translation Of the Old Testa-
ment into the Greek was made; here the
philosophers of the Greeks and Jews came
into contact IL is certainly remarkable that
in the land where the people of God had suf-
fered, the Son Of God should find protection
During the lifetime of Herod they might not
return, but his death occurred probably soon
after their flight The prophecy here cited is
from Hosea XII, l, Its primary application is
to Israel in Egypt, but in the child Jesus it
has its complete fulfilment. Israel was called
Gods son, Gods first-born. There are many
points of similarity between Christ and Israel
in Egypt In him all types and prophecies
find their completion. Near the site of the
Egyptian temple is the traditional place Of
Christ's temporary residence in Egypt.
VS.. 1918 The massacre of the inn0cents.
To Matthew we are indebted for this evil
dence of Herods cruelty and Gods prov
idence. The wise men did not return to
Herod. II soon dawned upon him that he
tgGs m0cked, 1. e., treated with discourtesy;
in word, that he had been 'outwitted,
made fool of, as Lange expresses it. This
was not the design of the wise men, but it un-
doubtedly was the conclusion to which Herod
came. Two motives now influenced his con-
duct: first, he would crafty his wrath
against the wise men; and second, he would
be sure of destroying the child Jesus. An
che ehildren-all the boys This is the true
meaning of the word. Male children alone he
desired to slay-not only those in Bethlehem,
but also in the vicinity, the adjacent districts.
Tico years old and uilder.-It is difficult to
decide ON the exact length of time here in
dicated 1t may mean all under two years,
or all who were entering the second year.
II Matthew adopted the usual Jewish method
Of reckoning, as it is likely he did. he would
reckon a child who had just passed the
second year as two years old. Herod would
judge Of the age of Christ from the time the
nk, D.kk f,l.s1
slain could not have been great. Bethlehem
was a small town. Its vicinity was not
populous. DR.. Haekett, as quoted by
DR.. g. W. Clark, supposes the
whole number was not more than
twelve or fifteen. Enemies of the gospel have
seized upon this incident as If it were an ut
terly improbable record. Many questions
also have been started by it. 1t has been sup
posed by some that thousands of children
were slain. This act of cruelty was quite in
harmony with Herod's character, and it took
place probably shortly before his death. We
need not be surprised that Josephus passes it
over in silence The chief interest TO us is in
its connection with the childhood and preser-
walton Of Jesus In the sorrow which re-
suited from this act of cruelty the
evangelist finds the fulfllment of the
prophecy in secondary sense.
Rdm0.-A city about six miles north of
Jerusalem; not Ramah in the land Of
buried This prophecy is typical Its prin-
cipal reference is TO the captivity of the Jews
and their assembling at Rama previous to
being taken to Babylon. Rachel, the mother
of Joseph and Benjamin, is dramatically re
presented as rising from her tomb near
Bethlehem, and weeping for her children,
and her voice is heard in Rama Herods
deed fills Bethlehem with similar outcries of
grief.
vs.. 1928. The holy family returns from
Egypt.-Again Matthew Is alone in the rec
ord here given. Herod is now dead His
death occurred at Jericho in the SEVENTEEN
year Of his age aud the thirty-seventh of his
reign. as the result of a loathsome disease
The time is fixed by an eclipse Of the moon,
which occurred in the seven hundred and fif-
tieth year Of Rome, or four years before the
beginning Of our era Again the angel ap
pears in a dream to Joseph, and urges him
70 return to the land of Israel. Theu ard
dead Not Herod alone, but those who aided
him in the diabolical work; especially his son
Antipater, who was heir appal ent, and who
would gladly seek the destruction OF rival
heir Il is said that Ave days before Herod
died he had his so-., who had aided him in
the death OF his two elder brothers, put to
death. The return from Egypt was thus
brought about. The sojourn must have been
short. Archelaus received half the kingdom
on the death of Herod. His title was eth
march, The other half Of the kingdom was
divided between Philip and Antipas, each re-
ceiving the title Of tetrarch, or governor OF
the fourth part. After nine years the Roman
emperor Augustus banishcd Archelaus because
Of his cruelty. He slew 5000 Jews at once in
the temple at the beginning Of his reign. No
longer had Judea native King. The sceptre
had departed The sacred soil was immedi
ately under the feet Of mighty Rome with a
Governor whose headquarters were in Cas-
area. He sCds afraid.-- presence Of
Archelaus alarmed Joseph. Again he was
instructed by 0od in dream, and he turned
aside into Galilee, and dwelt in a city called
Nazareth. Four times Joseph was honored
by a revelation OF Gods will Pales-
tine was divided into three parts
Galilee ON the north, Samaria In the CEN
trc and Judea in the south. In
Galilee Joseph would be safe under Herod
Antipas. who was gentle and kind as COM
pared with Archelaus Nazaretl means
branch; there the Branch was TO grow up.
Il was a small city under the hills Of lower
Galilee, about seventy miles north Of Jerusa-
lem and midway between the Jordan and
the Mediterranean. II was situated on tho
side Of the hi1. The place was dot even